As a result of the Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 window panel blowout event, Turkish Airlines has decided to temporarily withdraw its five Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft for service inspections. This decision follows closely after an incident involving an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9, where a window and a section of the fuselage were compromised shortly after takeoff in the United States.
Subsequent to this midair near catastrophe, Alaska Airlines has grounded its entire Boeing 737 Max 9 fleet for safety assessments and maintenance reviews. This accident has raised safety concerns among various nations and airline carriers.
Related: Alaska 737-9 That Lost Door Plug in-Flight Had Previous Warning Light Issues: NTSB
Official Statement: Turkish Airlines on Social Media Platform X
Turkish Airlines’ decision regarding its Boeing fleet was officially confirmed by company spokesperson Yahya Üstün on the social media platform X.
Alaska Airlines’ın Boeing 737 MAX 9 uçağında yaşanan olay akabinde otoritelerin ön incelemesi sonucunda Türk Hava Yolları filosunda bulunan 5 adet Boeing 737 MAX 9 uçağın da tedbir amaçlı incelenmesi istenmiştir.
— Yahya ÜSTÜN (@yhyustun) January 6, 2024
Olaydaki teknik inceleme süreci tamamlanıp, otoritelerce talep…
US Regulators Ground Some 737-9s
In related news, US regulators, on Saturday, issued a temporary grounding of 171 Boeing 737 MAX 9 jets for essential safety inspections. This move was prompted by the cabin panel blowout on a new Alaska Airlines jet, which necessitated an emergency landing while carrying passengers.
Will China Ground the 737-9?
Media outlets have also reported that China is contemplating actions against this aircraft model in light of the recent accident. Meanwhile, in India, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has instructed all Indian airlines to conduct an immediate one-time inspection of the emergency exits on all Boeing 737-8 Max aircraft within their fleets.
It is important to note that Indian airlines do not operate the Boeing 737 Max-9 variant. Previously, in 2019, there was a worldwide suspension of the Boeing 737 Max aircraft fleet following two fatal crashes.